“Tres Caínes” tells the story of the Castaño Gil family, who build a self-defense army after the guerrillas kidnap and kill their father. Brothers Fidel, Vicente and Carlos become known as the Three Caínes, each with a nickname tied to his role in the war. The series follows their rise, their fight against the guerrillas, and the betrayal that threatens to tear them apart.
The show ran for one season across 80 episodes, airing from March 4, 2013 to June 18, 2013. Created by Gustavo Bolívar, it was produced by RTI Producciones for RCN TV in Colombia and MundoFox in the United States. Julián Román plays Carlos Castaño, Elkin Díaz plays Vicente Castaño, and Gregorio Pernía plays Fidel Castaño.
What the Critics Heard
The series faced immediate trouble after it started. Several Colombian citizens, mostly victims of the paramilitaries, protested the show on social media under the slogan #noen3caines. They said the series turned the history of violence into pure commerce, turning victims into spectacle.
Some brands pulled their ads from the show as a result. The protest reached a wide audience quickly, drawing attention to the show’s handling of its subject matter.
The Wider Criticism
Beyond the public outcry, the show drew criticism from other quarters:
- Academics and journalists questioned its historical accuracy.
- Human rights defenders pointed to its treatment of victims of the armed group.
- Victims of paramilitarism and state crimes argued the show lacked care.
- Citizens raised concerns about its dialogues, which they said re-victimized social groups harmed by the armed force led by the three brothers.
The Diocese of Quibdó also joined in, saying the series failed to highlight the role of the Church during the Bojayá Massacre. That criticism echoes a similar dispute over alleged support for drug trafficking in the series “Pablo Escobar, The Drug Lord.”
The Cast
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| Carlos Castaño | Julián Román |
| Vicente Castaño | Elkin Díaz |
| Fidel Castaño | Gregorio Pernía |
| Jesús Castaño Gil | Luis Fernando Múnera |
| Rosa de Castaño | Luz Stella Luengas |
| Romualda Castaño | Eileen Moreno |
| Marcos Castaño | Alexander Gil |
| Delfina Castaño | Juliana Posso |
| Margarita Castaño | Mariana de Córdoba |
| Alberto Castaño | Alex Betancourt |
| Mario Alberto Castaño | Freddy Ordoñez |
| Copetín | Andrés Ogilvie Browne |
The cast is large, and the show moves through many episodes to cover its story. That pace can work both ways: it gives depth to the family’s conflicts, but it also stretches the narrative thin across its run.
Our View
“Tres Caínes” attempts to dramatize a difficult chapter of Colombian history. It succeeds in building tension and giving its central trio a strong presence, even as the show struggles with the weight of its subject. The early controversy shows how seriously audiences took its attempt to remake this period for television.
This is a show that knows how to stage a conflict, even as it stumbles on the truth behind it. Its ambition is visible, and so is the cost of that ambition.
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